US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 1684 — what changed

Foreign Spill Protection Act of 2016

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended and 2 removed between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “Foreign Spill Protection Act of 2015”.2016”.

Sec. 2 Liability of owners and operators of foreign facilities

changed Section 1002 1001(32) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2702) 2701(32)) is amended by adding at the end the following:amended—

(1)
added by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (E) through (G), respectively;
(2)
added by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

added “(D) Foreign facilities—In the case of a foreign offshore unit or other facility located seaward of the boundary of the exclusive economic zone, any person or other entity owning or operating the facility, and any leaseholder, permit holder, assignee, or holder of a right of use and easement granted under applicable foreign law for the area in which the facility is located.”

(3)
added in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking “or offshore facility, the persons” and inserting “offshore facility, or foreign offshore unit or other facility located seaward of the boundary of the exclusive economic zone, the persons or entities”.

removed “(e) Foreign offshore units—In any case in which there is a discharge, or substantial threat of discharge, of oil from a foreign offshore unit that reaches or threatens to reach the navigable waters or adjoining shorelines or the exclusive economic zone, the owner or operator of the facility—

removed “(1) is liable for the removal costs and damages specified in subsection (b) that result from such incident; and

removed “(2) shall be treated as a responsible party with respect to the incident for the purposes of this Act in the same manner as a responsible party for an offshore facility.”

Sec. 3 Penalties for discharge of oil from foreign offshore units

removed

removed Section 311(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

removed “(13) Foreign offshore units

removed “(A) Discharges of oil reaching navigable waters—In any case in which there is a discharge of oil from a foreign offshore unit that reaches the navigable waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines, or waters of the contiguous zone—

removed “(i) the discharge shall be subject to the prohibition in paragraph (3); and

removed “(ii) the owner or operator of the unit shall be subject to the penalties established under this subsection.

removed “(B) Foreign offshore unit defined—In this paragraph, the term “foreign offshore unit” has the meaning given that term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701).”

Sec. 4 Applicability

removed

removed The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to a discharge, or substantial threat of discharge, of oil occurring after the date of enactment of this Act.